Hot swap fan and housing thereof

ABSTRACT

A hot swap fan, capable of being hot swapped in a system, includes a first housing, a second housing, an impeller and a terminal seat. The first housing is assembled with the second housing to form an accommodating space therebetween for accommodating the impeller therein. The terminal seat has at least one terminal electrically connected to the fan so as to enable the fan to be electrically connected to the system and drive the impeller to rotate when the fan is installed in the system. The terminal seat is disposed between the first housing and the second housing.

This non-provisional application claims priority under U.S.C.§ 119(a) on Patent Application no(s). 094116204, filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on May 19, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a fan and a housing thereof, and in particular to a hot swap fan and a housing thereof.

2. Related Art

Accompanying to the progress of technology, the efficiency of the electronic products is gradually enhanced. However, if the heat generated from the running electronic product is not properly dissipated, the stability and the efficiency of the electronic products tend to be deteriorated or even burned out. In general, a heat dissipating device such as a fan is often adapted to maintain the electronic products to be operated within a predetermined temperature range.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional fan 1 connected to a system 2. The conventional fan 1 has a plurality of wires 11 bonded to a connector 111 by soldering. Then, the connector 111 is connected to the system 2 such as a motherboard of a server for receiving the power or the signals so as to drive the fan 1. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, another simpler connection method is that the wires 11 are directly bonded onto the system 2 by soldering for receiving the power or the signals.

However, no matter which connection method is used, the fan 1 has to be replaced whenever the fan 1 is abnormal. Due to the limitation of the conventional connector, the power of the system 2 has to be shut off before the fan is replaced. Thus, it is time-consuming and labor-consuming and may cause delays in the regular work. Furthermore, the conventional fan 1 is usually fixed to the system 2 by additional components, such as screws, or even the replacing operation has to be performed by using additional tools. Thus, the customer may feel inconvenient in usage because the fan cannot be quickly and simply replaced, thereby causing a lot of economic loss.

It is thus imperative to provide a hot swap fan and a housing thereof capable of facilitating the disassembling of the fan quickly without cutting off the system power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a hot swap fan and a housing thereof for facilitating the disassembling of the fan quickly without cutting off the system power.

To achieve the above, a fan housing according to the present invention includes a first housing, a second housing and a terminal seat. The second housing is coupled with the first housing. The terminal seat is disposed between the first housing and the second housing and is connected to the first housing and/or the second housing. The terminal seat may be an independent element disposed between the first housing and the second housing. Alternatively, the terminal seat may be integrally formed with the first housing or the second housing as a single piece. The terminal seat has a plate shape, an L shape or a U shape, and the terminal seat is connected to the first housing and/or the second housing by way of bonding, riveting, screwing, adhering, embedding, clamping, locking or by a slot-track pair.

The fan housing is applied to an axial fan or a centrifugal fan. The first housing and the second housing may be two independent elements assembled with each other or may be integrally formed as a single piece. In addition, the first housing has a side surface substantially flushed with the terminal seat.

To achieve the above, a hot swap fan according to the present invention may be hot swapped in a system. The hot swap fan includes a first housing, a second housing, an impeller and a terminal seat. The first housing is assembled with the second housing to form an accommodating space therebetween for accommodating the impeller. The terminal seat has at least one terminal electrically connected to the fan to enable the fan to be electrically connected to the system and drive the impeller to rotate when the fan is installed in the system. The terminal seat is disposed between the first housing and the second housing.

The terminal seat may be an independent element clamped between the first housing and the second housing, or may be integrally formed with the first housing or the second housing as a single piece. The terminal seat has a plate shape, an L shape or a U shape. The terminal seat is connected to the first housing and/or the second housing by way of bonding, riveting, screwing, adhering, embedding, clamping, locking or by a slot-track pair. Alternatively, the terminal seat and the first housing and/or the second housing may be integrally formed as a single piece. In addition, the first housing has a side surface substantially flushed with the terminal seat.

As mentioned above, a hot swap fan and a housing thereof according to the present invention are electrically connected to the system through the terminal seat. When the fan in the system has to be disassembled and replaced, a new fan may be hot swapped for replacement directly and quickly without cutting off the power of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing conventional fans connected to a system;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view showing a fan according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional assembled view of the fan in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional exploded view showing a fan according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional assembled view of the fan in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are three-dimensional exploded and assembled views showing a fan 3 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The fan 3 of this embodiment may be a hot swap centrifugal fan, which is capable of being hot swapped in a system (not shown). The fan 3 includes a fan housing 30 and an impeller 40.

The fan housing 30 includes a first housing 31, a second housing 32 and a terminal seat 33. The second housing 32 and the first housing 31 are coupled with each other in a vertical direction to form an accommodating space therebetween for accommodating the impeller 40 therein. The impeller 40 has a hub 42 and a plurality of blades 41 surrounding around the hub 42.

The first housing 31 of this embodiment has a side surface 311, on which a notch 312 is disposed. In addition, the first housing 31 includes at least one groove 3121 adjacent to the notch for providing a coupling force to allow the terminal seat 33 to be embedded into the notch 312, when the first housing 31 is assembled with the second housing 32, such that the terminal seat 33 is disposed between the first housing 31 and the second housing 32. Preferably, there are two grooves 3121 respectively disposed at positions close to two sides of the notch 312. When the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 are coupled with each other vertically, the terminal seat 33 is embedded into the notch 312 by the vertical coupling force so that the terminal seat 33 is assembled between the first housing 31 and the second housing 32.

The terminal seat 33 includes a base 331 and a plurality of terminals 332. The base 331 has a plurality of terminal holes for respectively mounting the terminals 332 therein. The terminals 332 are electrically connected to the fan 3 via wires (not shown). When the fan 3 is connected to a system (not shown), the terminal seat 33 is electrically connected to the fan 3 such that the fan 3 can be in contact with and electrically connected to the system via the terminals 332 of the terminal seat 33, whereby receiving the power or the signals coming from the system and driving the impeller 40 to rotate.

The terminal seat 33 of this embodiment is an independent element disposed between the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 when the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 are assembled with each other. The base 331 of the terminal seat 33 has a plate shape, and preferably respectively has two extensions 3311 located at two ends of the base 331, respectively. Each of the extension 3311 corresponds to the groove 3121 of the first housing 31, such that the terminal seat 33 is just accommodated in the space formed by the notch 312 of the first housing 31, and the base 331 may be fixed between the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 when the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 are connected to each other. In addition, the base 331 is substantially flushed with the side surface 311 of the first housing 31, and the terminals 332 do not protrude over the fan 3. The wires connected to the terminal seat 33 can be disposed at proper positions under the precondition of not enlarging the size of the fan 3. Thus, the terminal seat 33 of the present invention can satisfy the requirement on the spatial limitation of the current electronic products.

The terminal seat 33 may be an independent element disposed between the first housing 31 and the second housing 32, and the base 331 can be connected to the first housing 31 by way of bonding, riveting, screwing, adhering, embedding, clamping, locking, or by a slot-track pair or other connecting methods. Alternatively, the base 331 of the terminal seat 33 may be directly and integrally formed with the first housing 31 or the second housing 32 as a single piece, and then the terminal seat 33 is disposed between the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 when the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 are assembled together. The base 331 and the first housing 31 may be formed by way of plastic injection molding such that the base 331 and the first housing 31 are one-piece molded. In addition, the base 331 may also have different shapes in accordance with the shapes of the first housing 31 and the second housing 32, such as an L shape or a U shape.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are three-dimensional exploded and assembled views showing a fan 5 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The fan 5 of this embodiment may be a hot swap axial fan, which is capable of being hot swapped in a system (not shown). The fan 5 includes a fan housing 50 and an impeller 60.

The fan housing 50 includes a first housing 51, a second housing 52 and a terminal seat 53. The first housing 51 and the second housing 52 are two separate components and are assembled with each other to form an accommodating space therebetween for accommodating the impeller 60 therein. In addition, the first housing 51 and the second housing 52 of the fan 5 may also be one-piece molded into a single housing having an accommodating space for accommodating the impeller 60.

The terminal seat 53 of this embodiment includes a base 531 and a plurality of terminals 532. The base 531 has a plurality of terminal holes for respectively mounting the terminals 532 therein. The terminals 532 are electrically connected to the fan 5 via wires (not shown). When the fan 5 is connected to a system (not shown), the terminal seat 53 is electrically connected to the fan 5 such that the fan 5 can be in contact with and electrically connected to the system via the terminals 532 of the terminal seat 53, whereby receiving the power or the signals coming from the system and driving the impeller 60 to rotate.

The terminal seat 53 of this embodiment is an independent element disposed between the first housing 51 and the second housing 52 when the first housing 51 and the second housing 52 are assembled with each other. The base 531 of the terminal seat 53 has an L shape, and preferably respectively has two protrusions 5311 located at two ends of the base 531, respectively. Each of the protrusion 5311 corresponds to a positioning hole 511 of the first housing 51 or a positioning hole 521 of the second housing 52 so that the base 531 of the terminal seat 53 can be fixed between the first housing 51 and the second housing 52 by ways of the two protrusions 5311 engaging with the positioning holes 511 and 521. In addition, the outer surface of the base 531 is substantially flushed with the side surface of the first housing 51, and the terminals 532 do not protrude over the fan 5. The wires connected to the terminal seat 53 can be disposed at proper positions under the precondition of not enlarging the size of the fan 5. Thus, the terminal seat 53 of the present invention can satisfy the requirement on the spatial limitation of the current electronic products.

In summary, a hot swap fan and a housing thereof according to the present invention are connected to the system via the terminal seat. The terminal seat is connected to the fan by fixing between the upper and lower housings without modifying the original design of the housings. Thus, the molds for forming the housings need not to be manufactured again. In addition, the hot swap fan and the housing can provide an easy and simple way for installing and disassembling the fan through the connection between the terminal seat and the system. When the fan installed in the system needs to be replaced, users can directly disassemble the old fan and replace the old fan with a new one without cutting off the power of the system. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience and the economic loss. When the fan in the system (e.g., a fan tray) has to be disassembled and replaced, a new fan can be hot swapped for replacement directly and quickly in an easy and economic way without using any tool and without cutting off the power of the system.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention. 

1. A fan housing, comprising: a first housing; a second housing coupled with the first housing; and a terminal seat disposed between the first housing and the second housing and connected to the first housing and/or the second housing.
 2. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the terminal seat has a plate shape, an L shape or a U shape.
 3. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the terminal seat is integrally formed with the first housing or the second housing as a single piece.
 4. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the terminal seat is connected to the first housing and/or the second housing by way of bonding, riveting, screwing, adhering, embedding, clamping, locking or by a slot-track pair.
 5. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the terminal seat comprises a base and a plurality of terminals, and the base comprises a plurality of terminal holes for respectively mounting the terminals therein.
 6. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing has a side surface, which is substantially flushed with the terminal seat.
 7. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing has a side surface, on which a notch is disposed, and the first housing comprises at least one groove adjacent to the notch for providing a coupling force to allow the terminal seat to be embedded into the notch when the first housing is assembled with the second housing such that the terminal seat is disposed between the first housing and the second housing.
 8. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing is applied in an axial fan or a centrifugal fan.
 9. The fan housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing are integrally formed as a single piece.
 10. A hot swap fan, capable of being hot swapped in a system, comprising: a first housing and a second housing coupled with the first housing to form an accommodating space therebetween; an impeller disposed in the accommodating space; and a terminal seat having at least one terminal electrically connected to the fan so as to enable the fan to be electrically connected to the system and drive the impeller to rotate when the fan is installed in the system, wherein the terminal seat is disposed between the first housing and the second housing.
 11. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the terminal seat has a plate shape, an L shape or a U shape.
 12. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the terminal seat is integrally formed with the first housing or the second housing as a single piece.
 13. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the terminal seat is connected to the first housing and/or the second housing by way of bonding, riveting, screwing, adhering, embedding, clamping, locking or by a slot-track pair.
 14. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the terminal seat comprises a base and a plurality of terminals, and the base comprises a plurality of terminal holes for respectively mounting the terminals therein.
 15. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the first housing has a side surface, which is substantially flushed with the terminal seat.
 16. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the first housing has a side surface on which a notch is disposed, and the first housing comprises at least one groove adjacent to the notch for providing a coupling force to allow the terminal seat to be embedded into the notch when the first housing is assembled with the second housing such that the terminal seat is disposed between the first housing and the second housing.
 17. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the fan is an axial fan or a centrifugal fan.
 18. The fan according to claim 10, wherein the first housing and the second housing are integrally formed as a single piece. 